Report: Clowney done with private workouts

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney reportedly will no longer do individual workouts for teams before the NFL draft. (C Michael Bergen / MCT)

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will not conduct additional private workouts with NFL suitors, according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King.

Clowney, in contention to be drafted first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL draft, has a mix of size and explosiveness to draw comparisions to elite pass rushers past and present. He has not yet visited the Texans but is scheduled to meet with the team brass this month, where it is common for the team to request a closed-door workout before investing a first-round pick in that player.

But on all visits between now and the May 8-10 NFL draft, Clowney will be available only for face-to-face interviews when he travels to visit team headquarters, according to the report.

The report cites the recent injury to Clemson offensive lineman Brandon Thomas, projected as a top-50 pick by NFLDraftScout.com, who tore his ACL in a private workout with the New Orleans Saints. NFLDraftScout.com projects Thomas lost at least 2-3 rounds draft value because of the injury and its estimated nine-month recovery.

Clowney went through partial workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and one month later wowed scouts in Columbia, S.C., with the Texans and 29 other NFL teams in attendance for his pro day.

Thanks in part to a comment from South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, who said Clowney's work ethic was “OK” compared to past Gamecocks stars, several teams question his desire and love for the game. Clowney's natural gifts stand out during athletic testing, but the softspoken edge player could be inviting more prodding by evaluators curious about his drive to be great in the NFL.